Ice-cutting machine.



H. BLANK, JR.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, 1913.

O O 0' co m COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Gil-.WASHINOTON. D. c.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

Q 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

awe/whom QnkJP H. BLANK, JR.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. I913. 1,155,400. Patented Oct. 5,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANDIJRAPH CDH WASHINOTDN. D. 6..

H. BLANK, JR.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23,'19|3.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO WASHINGTON, n. c.

)art of the machine. 1

n'n'rn eras rare orrrcn.

.f-HEnMAn B nNK, 3n.,.oF MADISON, NEBRASKA.

Ion-commits MACHINE.

new and useful Improvements in Ice-Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact dethe sawing operatiomthe wheels 9 andtheir supporting members 10 are removedifrom beneath the" supporting structure, by the re v moval ofthepins 11 while the machine is be scription of the invention, such as will en-' able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

The object. of this invention is to provide an ice cutting machine for cutting ice into cakes or blocks, the said invention residing primarily in various "manually operable, driving, connecting, resilient and automatic means, the coact-ing relationship existing therebetween to be hereinafter set forth and the whole being possessed of those advanta es and that desirability which may be ice with the transporting wheels removed.

Fig. 2, represents a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the machine in condition for transportation. resents a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, but showing the machine as elevated above the ice upon its supporting legs, shown in dotted lines, preparatory to the removal of its transporting wheels. Fig. 4, represents a top plan view oft-he front Fig. 5, represents a front elevation of a part of the machine.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 6 indicates the longitudinal beams and 7, the transverse beams of the supporting structure for the parts of the machine. The

platform 8, is secured over the supporting structure at the forward end of the latter,

and said frame is supported above the ground or ice by wheels 9., removably secured beneath the beams of the supporting structure by suitable supporting members 10, and removablepins ll'when the ma chine is being transported from one point of use to another. 12, are pivotedto the longitudinal beam. 6

at e r sp c ive sid -.0 5 the rlre i sfi Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 3, rep

A suitable number of legs structure, and are adapted to. abut against the stops 13, when the legs 12 are forced downwardly into engagement with the surface of the ice to sustain the supporting structure above the ice while the wheels are being removedtherefroin or attached thereto as the case may be. i

It is understood that at the beginning of ing supported by the legs 12. The machine- 12, until the saws 17 are brought into contact with the surface of the ice. The legs 12 are then raised to theirhorizontal position at the sides of the machine, and the saws are started to rotate, whereupon the saws will cut their way through the ice, thus further lowering the machine until the bottom surface of the beams 6 rest upon the top of the ice, thereby providing runners for the smooth gliding of the machine upon the ice when drawn forwardly in a manner to be hereinafter described. 7 I

The platform 8, is adapted to support a suitable motor (not shown), from which is driven the shaft 14:, by suitable driving means such as a belt 15. Behind the shaft 14-, is mounted a second shaft 16, which is journaled in the longitudinal beams 6, of the supporting structure and carries a plurality ofxcircular saws 17,- pairs of these saws being preferably separated from ad,

either of the gears or 23, meshing with the gear For shifting the gears 22 and lever 25, is provided and connected there with by the link 26, and lever 27. A shaft 28, is adapted to be driven fromthe counter shaft '20, by achain 29, working over suitable sprocket wheels carried by said shafts. The shaft 28, extends longitudinally ofthe supporting structure" and is provided at its Patented @ct. 5, i915.

Application filed October 23, 1913. Serial No. 796,902.

" 23 for freeing the gear 24:, or for rotating it in the desired direction, a suitable hand forwardend witha worm 30, which meshes with a worm wheel 31, fixed on a shaft 32, which latter also carries a gear wheel 33. The bearings 34, for the shaft 32, are car ried by a plate 35, which is pivoted upon the shaft28, adjacent the worm 30, and is guided in'its movement over the rear plate 36, by a guide finger 37. I H winding shaft 38, is rotatably supported at the forward end of the supportmg structure and carries at one end a gear wheel'39, which is adapted to mesh with the I gear wheel 33, whentheplate 35 is moved to theposition shown in Fig; 5. The plate f 35, isadapted tofbe shifted so as to opera? tively connect the gears 33 and 39, by a bar 40, which is connected at its opposite extremity to tlie'crank end 41, of a hand lever 42. The gears 33 and 39, are normally held out of mesh by a suitable spring 43, disposed between the plate 35 and arm 44," and for. holdingsaid gears in mesh against the tension of the spring, a springiactuated latch 45, is provided and pivoted at '46, to the platform 8, and adapted to spring behind the crank 41, as the latter is moved by the hand lever 42, to connect said gears. A foot lever or pedal 47, is pivoted to the platform 8, and Connected with the latch 45, by a latch bar 48, for manually rocking the latch "and releasing the crank 41.

Cables 49, are secured "at one end to the I winding shaft 38, and areprovided at their opposite end with stakes 50, which are adapted to be driven into the ice orearth so that the cablemay be wound upon the shaft '38, when'the latter is rotated for drawing. themachine over the ice. A rod 51, is slidably mounted through the outer extremity of the latch 45, and is pivotally connected at one end to a pivoted lever 52, and carries an: adjustable abutment" 53, adapted'for engagement with the extremity of the latch 45, for actuating the latter to release the crank 41. The lever 52, is pivoted to the outer longitudinal beam 6, and

v is connected at itslower end with an ice engaging hook'54. The shank of the hook 54,

is slidably received within the looped crank arm 55, of shaft 56, which latter also carries on its opposite extremity a second looped crank arm 57. The" loop in the last mentioned crank arm 57, slidably receives cables 49 winding upon the win'ding'shaft V 38. "Movement of the crank 41, causes the ice engaging hook-54,;to1bel depressed and embedded inthe ice by. the rod 58, cranks 55 hook 60.

and 57, and shaft 56. As the machine is drawn forward the hook 54 obviously remains stationary, turning the lever 52, sliding the rod'51 forwardly through the outer extremity of the latch 45, until the abutment 53, on said rodengages the extremityof said I latch and actuates the latter to free the crank4l, consequently permitting the spring 43, to turn the plate 35,- and disconnect the gears 33 and 39. Obviously, when the crank 41, is freed and permitted to assume its normal position, ,therod 58, connectedthereand cranks 55 and '57, and raise-the hook 54, from engagement with the ice. The ice, engaging hook 54, is normally held in raised, position by the supporting hook 60, and

vvith is moved so as to rock the shaft 56,

released by the latter when the hand lever- 1 J 42, is actuated througlia shaft 6l,rhaving cranks at its forward and rear'ends and engaging respectlvely the hand "lever 42, and the upper end of"sa1d-support1ng A pair of guides corner-of the rearend of the supporting structure of the machine, extend vertically, and are connected at their upperwends by 62, is secured to each cross beams 63. rhf'rame consisting of a pair of spaced beams '64, is mounted between th uides 62, and connected wlth thecranks 65 and 66, by the connecting rods 67. The

rear ends of the cranks 65 and 66, are provided' with additional cranks 68, which lat ter are connected by the connectingrod 69, whereby the opposite ends of the frame 64,

are moved-simultaneously and in the same dlrection A lever 70, is secured to a part of the supporting structure and 18 connected by a link 71, to the upturned end of a shaft operated byra hand lever72, having a suitable lockim device7 3 thereon The u oer end of the lever 7 0, is connected to an arm 73a, f the crank65, by a link 74. By proper manipulation of the hand lever 72, the frame 64', may be raised or lowered as de-- sired, and secured in its adjusted position by the locking device 73.-

A bearing block 75, is slidably mounted between and guided by the beams 64, of the vertically adjustable frame, and rotatably receives a shaft76, to the rear end of which is secured acircular saw 77., The saw 77, is adapted to cut across or transversely of the line of travelof the machine, as will be understood, and is suitably driven by abelt 7 8,'working over a spring actuatedidler 79,

a pair of idlers 80,, carried byfthe-top beam I 64, pulley 81, fixed to the shaft 76, and the pulley 82," fixed to the longitudinal extend- 'ing shaft 28; i When the Winding by the automaticdisconnection of the gears 33 and 39, as hereinbefore described, the

progress of the machine is stopped, and at this-time the operator manipulates the lever p shaft 38, is stopped area too 72, so as to lower the beams 64, andsaw 77,

upon the ice The saw 77, and bearing block 75, are moved transversely of the" machine,

' over a pulley 86, at theend of the top beam 64. The shaft 84:, isadapted to be rotated first in one direction and then in the other for reciprocating the bearing block 7 5, and saw 77, longitudinally of the beams 64, bv

exerting pulling force on the endsof th e'.v

cable 83 alternately by [a suitable train" of gears 87, mounted upon the extended endof the top beam 64. The last of the train of gears 87, is adapted to mesh with the gear I wheel. 88, carried by the shaft 28, when the saw supporting frame 64:, is in its lowermost position for moving said saw longitudinally of the frame 64. Said 1st gear of the train 87, is adapted to mesh with the top gear wheel 89, driven from the shaft 28, by the beltQO, when the frame 64, is

raised by the operator, and in this way the I saw 77, and the bearing block 75, are moved to their initial position.

The operation of the machine as a whole omitting the descriptions of such'portions as have already been described, may be briefly set forth as follows The driver or operator of the machine takes his position upon the platform 8 at the forward end of the machine in such position as to have ready access to the clutch levers, the lever 72 and the foot pedal 47 and is also in proximity to the motor which although not shown is also carried on the forward platform 8. When it is desired to move the machine onward the operators assistants drive the stakes 50 into the ice the desired distance ahead, the clutch for operating the shaft lt is thrown in bythe'driv'er and the clutch '27 also moved to provide for the proper meshing of one "of the gears 22 or 23 with the gear 2a which willresult in a driving of the shaft 28 and a consequent rotation of the winding shaft 88 through the worm gears 30 and 81' and the spur'gears 33 and 39 providing the latch 15 engages the crank 41 of the lever 42 against the tension of the spring 43 inorder to accomplish the" proper meshing of these two last named gears. As has been before stated the ice engaging hooks 5st are driven downwardly into the ice by movement of the crank 41 and determine as previously set forth the distance which the machine, is adapted to travel by the winding upon the shaft 38, of the cables 49. After the machine has traveled this predetermined distance the latch 45 is automatically disengaged fromthe crank 41 allowing the spring 43 to returnfthe gear 33 out. of engagement with the gear 39 which natug rally prevents further rotation ofthe windeing shaft 38 and brings the machine to a rest, although the foot pedal 47 may be used by the operator to accomplish the stopping of the machineat any time it is desirable to do so without causing the machine to travel the full distance permitted it by the automatic, means above described. While the machine is going forward the longitudinally cutting saws 17 are cutting the ice directly' under' the machine into strips the width of'which is equal to the lateral distance between the saws while the reciprocating cross-cut saw-7 7 mounted as described in its guide members and reciprocated by the motion of the cable 83 wound upon and fas o tened 'to the shaft '84 is used for cutting these strips transversely to form the usual blocks in which the ice is customarily handled. The sizes of these blocks as far as regards the length can be readily adjusted by the driver without moving from his position by operating the handle lever 72' controlling the operation of the cross cut saw 77. The various other operations and the coacting relationship existing between the remaining elements has already been previously set forth and from the description versely of the forward end of said supporting structure, cables attached at one end to said winding shaft, ice engaging means car ried at the other end of said cables, and

-means for intermittently connecting said winding shaft with said operating [means whereby the former may be rotated to wind the cable thereupon.

2. In an ice cutting machine, a supporting structure, longitudinally positioned ice cutting saws rotatably mounted in said struc ture, operating means for driving said saws, 1

a winding shaft positioned transversely of the forward end of said supporting structure, cables attached at one end to said winding shaft, ice engaging means carried at the other end of saidcables, means forintermittently connecting said winding shaft with: said operating means, whereby the former may be rotated to wind the cable thereupon, and means for automatically disconnecting the driving connections between said operating means and said winding shaft w'hen the machlne determined distance.

has'traveledla pree 1 7' i @130- ;3.'- In anice cutting machine, -a support ing plat'form, longitudinally acting cutting saws rotatablymounted on said platform,-

operating, means "for drivingv saidasaws, a

shaft, ice gripping means carried by the other end of said cables, driving connections I interposed between said operating jmeans and said winding shaft, manually shiftable means for engaging or. disengaging said:

driving fconne'ctions with said operating means, T and further -manually operable means for operatively connecting said. drive F ing connections ;with said winding shaft whereby the latter is rotated and said cable wound thereon.

4. In an ice cutting machine, a supporting platform, longitudinally acting cutting saws rotatably mounted on said platform, operating means for driving said saws, a'winding shaftcarried forwardly of said platform, cablesattached at oneend to said shaft, ice gripping means carried by the other end of said cables, driving connections interposed. be

gaging'or disengaging said driving connections with said operating" means, further connecting means interposed between said? driving COIlIlQCtlOIlS and saidwinding shaft ing means for driving said saws, a winding whereby the same may be intermittently connected, and manually operable means whereby said further" connecting means may be operated to engage said driving connections U operating means for driving said saws, a

winding shaft carried forwardly of. said platform, cables attached at one end to said shaft, ice gripping meanscarried by the end of said cables, driving connections interposed between said operating means, and l with said winding shaft for winding said "said winding: shaft, manually shi-ftable driving connectionsewithsaid. operating means for engaging or disengaging 'said means, further connecting means interposed 7 between said driving connections and said winding: shaft whereby the same .maybe intermittently connected, manually operable means whereby said further connecting means may be operated toeng'agesaiddriving connections with SfllflWlIldlIlg shaft for winding said cables upon 1 the latter, and

resilient means normally holding said 'further connecting means out of that position which ope ratively engages said driving connection with said winding shaft. I i r 6. Inanice cutting machine, a supporting platform, longitudinally-acting cutting saws rotatablymounted on said platform, operating means for driving said sawaa winding shaft; carried forwardly of said platform,

cables attached at one end to said shaft, ice

grippingmeans-carriedby the end of said -cables,-dr1v1ng connections interposed be tweensaid operating means and said windingfshaft,manually shiftable means for en-;

gaging or, disengagingfsaid driving conned. tions with said operatlng means, further connecting'means interposed between'isaidf drivingflconnections and :said winding shaft ated to engage said driving 'conn'ectionswith whereby'the same maybe i'ntermittentlyrcone nected, manually operable means whereby, said further connectingmeans may be opersaid driving connections with said winding shaft, andlatching means automatically coacting with 'said manually operable meansv to hold said further connecting -means in:

that positionin which said driving connections and said winding shaft are operatively connected against'the tension of said resilientmeans, when, said manually" operable means are properly moved, to accomplish suchengagement; L

7, Ina-n ice cutting machine, a supporting platform, longitudinally acting cutting saws rotatablymounted'on said platform, operatshaft carried'forwardly of said'platform,

- cables attached at one end tosaidshaft, ice? gripping meanscarried by the end of said v cables, driving connections interposed be tions with said operating means, further said further connecting means may be optweensaid operating means and said winding shaft, manually shiftablemeans for en- I, gaging or disengaging saiddriving' connecerated to engage said driving connections cables upon the latter,: resilient means normally holding said further connecting means out of that position which operatively engages said driving, connections with said winding shaft, latching means automatically coacting with said manually operable, means i to hold said, further connectingv :means in that position in' which-said driving COTIT10 termined time to allow said resilient meansto disengage-J said driving connections with d wmdl glsha t 8.- In an ice cutting machine including a supporting platform, longitudinally acting ice cutting saws rotatably mounted in said platform, operating means for driving said saws, a winding shaft positioned forwardly of said platform, cables secured at one end to said winding shaft, ice gripping means carried at the other ends of said cables, manually operable means for engaging said operating means for said winding shaft to wind said cables thereupon and pull the machine toward said ice gripping means, and further ice gripping means automatically engageable for causing a break in the connection between said operating means and said winding shaft and consequently a cessation of the movement of said machine after it has traveled a predetermined distance.

9. An ice cutting machine including a supporting platform, longitudinally acting ice cutting saws rotatably mounted thereon, driving means for said saws, means connectible to said driving means fordrawing the machine forward, automatic means coacting with said connectible means for arresting the forward progress of the machine, a saw frame carried transversely of the machine, a transversely acting saw positioned in said frame, manually operable means for raising or lowering said frame and conse quently engaging or disengaging said saw with the ice, driving means for said saw, and

means automatically coacting with the saw frame at the extremities of its upward or downward movement for causing reciprol cation of said transverse saw in said frame in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN BLANK, J R.

Witnesses:

HENRY H. STEINBEEK, W. M. VISENHOWAR.

Copies of this patentmay be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

